Scientists say ultrafine particles in cruise ship emissions associated with reduced ability to resist common viruses
More than 2.5 million cruise passengers travelled through Southampton in 2025. It is also the UK’s leading vehicle and deep-sea trading port. You can see the ships and port machinery from miles around. All of this is downwind of a city of 260,000 people.
A team of 32 researchers began investigating air pollution from the docks in 2018. Their research has revealed that the types of air pollution that come from ships may be more harmful than those from road traffic.
